The rights and interests that No. the 61/360th, 935, the U.S. Provisional Patent Application that the application requires to submit on July 2nd, 2010, the disclosure of said U.S. Provisional Patent Application is combined in this by reference.
Background technology
Equipment, system and/or the method for following information with help reader understanding following discloses are provided, and the environment that uses this kind equipment, system and/or method usually.Do not hope that term used herein is subject to any concrete narrow definition, only if this paper offers some clarification in addition.The list of references that this paper lists can help to understand said equipment, system and/or method or technical background.The disclosure of all lists of references that this paper quotes all is combined in this by reference.
Allow people in hazardous environment like the airline respirator of self contained breathing equipment (SCBA), and breathe not utilizing mechanical assistance will be difficult to breathe in the confined space that maybe can't breathe such as fire.Airline respirator can for example comprise full facepiece mask, band carrier assembly, be full of the cylinder of breathing with high pressure air, and at least one, be more typically two air pressure regulators.First or first order adjuster be installed near the cylinder usually, and the effect of playing is that the compressed-air actuated high relatively pressure from cylinder is reduced to more than the atmospheric pressure.Cylinder contains air or the gas that is under the high pressure (for example, 2200psi to 4500psi) usually.First order adjuster can for example make said pressure be reduced to about 80-100psi.Second or second level adjuster be installed on the face shield usually, and the effect of playing is to regulate air mass flow to satisfy user's besoin de respirer.The control of breathing governor assembly for example is disclosed in the United States Patent (USP) the 4th, 821, No. 767 and the 5th, 016, No. 627.
Be sealed to user facial face shield or mask and generally include lens, the user can see surrounding environment through said lens.Face shield also comprises port or the fixture (mount) that is connected with second level adjuster fluid, and inhaled air gets into mask through this port or fixture, and comprises that the air of exhalation leaves the expiration port of mask through it.In some face shields,, use single-port for the air that sucks and breathe out.In other face shield, use independently port.A kind of valve system of user's control of breathing (for example, comprising inlet valve and outlet valve) is so that sending via second level adjuster control forced air.Usually, be desirably in the slight positive pressure of keeping in the face shield with respect to environmental pressure.The face shield of in face shield, keeping the airline respirator of malleation often is called as the pressure demand face shield, and other face shield of airline respirator often is called as the demand face shield.
When not settling the situation of pressure regulator (often being called " subsequent use " or " environment " operator scheme) use of following time face shield, the valve system of many face shields can produce resistance (user must overcome said resistance) with exhaling to air-breathing.Under pressure demand face shield situation, outlet valve is biased in closed position (for example, being the load on spring state) thereby during its normal running, keeps slight positive pressure, and therefore comparing the demand face shield has aggravated expiratory resistance.Air-breathing resistance with expiration may cause the user not feel well and be tired.
Open port has been set in many face shields, has made when using face shield, to breathe and to carry out without restriction substantially with subsequent use pattern (that is, not connecting pressure regulator on the face shield).Yet this generic port usually causes pressure regulator contaminated, and this is undesirable, and is shared each other because pressure regulator often is not used the person.
Summary of the invention
On the one hand, respiratory system comprises adjuster and the breathing mask that is used for being used in combination with adjuster, and said adjuster comprises and is used to be connected to the inlet in gas-pressurized (this gas comprises oxygen) source and be used to send the outlet of gas to the user.Face shield comprises the interface removably attached with adjuster; Thereby in order to surround wearer's nose and at least one sealing system of mouth with the facial sealed engagement that forms of user; Air-breathing or the inhalation port that is connected and is connected with adjuster interface fluid with the facepiece interior fluid; Between suction port and facepiece interior, carry out at least one air-breathing check-valves that fluid connects; Expiration that is connected with the face shield fluid or exhalation port; Expiration that is connected with expiration port fluid or exhalation check-valves and the environment port that separates with suction port and separate with the expiration port.The environment port is connected with the facepiece interior fluid and stays out of check-valves.The environment port is connected with said interface fluid, makes when adjuster is connected to the adjuster interface, and adjuster sealed environment port is connected with the outlet fluid of adjuster avoiding.Suction port and environment port can for example be formed in the said interface.
Adjuster can for example comprise at least one containment member, and said at least one containment member is used for when adjuster is connected to said interface the sealed environment port and is connected with the outlet fluid of adjuster avoiding.In many embodiments, adjuster comprises second containment member that is used for forming first containment member of sealing with the suction port inwall of suction port (for example, with) and is used for forming with the said interface inwall of said interface (for example, with) sealing.
Said system can for example comprise further that usefulness is so that filter is attached to the adapter (adapter) of said interface.Adapter comprises the mask interface that is adapted to the interface that is connected to face shield and is adapted to the filter interface that is connected to filter.In many embodiments, adapter comprises air intake passage and exhalation passages independently.In many these type of embodiments, when adapter was attached to the interface of face shield, air intake passage was connected with the suction port fluid of face shield, and exhalation passages is connected with environment port fluid.Adapter can for example further comprise the expiration check-valves that is connected with the exhalation passages fluid.
In many embodiments, adjuster further comprises microphone.Microphone can be for example through locating when adjuster is connected to said interface, to align substantially with the environment port.
On the other hand; Stay out of the adjuster that the face shield of check-valves uses comprises with comprising the environment port that is connected with the facepiece interior fluid or open port: supply pressure breathing gas entering pressure regulator under first pressure inlet, be used for transmitting outlet and at least one containment member of breathing gas to face shield; Said at least one containment member is connected with the ambient air fluid and avoids being connected with the outlet fluid of pressure regulator avoiding in order to sealing open port when adjuster is attached to face shield.Containment member can for example be adapted to the inwall of open port and contact.Adjuster may further include in order to the interface with face shield and forms at least one other containment member that seals, and the interface of said face shield and adjuster are removably attached.
Adjuster can for example further comprise microphone.Microphone can be for example through locating when adjuster is connected to face shield, to align substantially with open port.
On the other hand, the method that reduces the respiratory resistance of the face shield that uses with the adjuster that comprises the inlet that is used for being connected to gas-pressurized (this gas comprises oxygen) source comprises: thus the interface removably attached with adjuster is provided, provide in order to form at least one sealing system that sealed engagement is surrounded wearer's nose and mouth with the user is facial; The suction port that is connected with adjuster interface fluid and is connected with the facepiece interior fluid is provided, is provided at least one air-breathing check-valves of carrying out fluid between suction port and the facepiece interior and connecting, the expiration port that is connected with the face shield fluid is provided, the expiration check-valves that is connected with the port fluid of exhaling is provided; And the environment port that separates with suction port and separate with the expiration port is provided.The environment port is connected with the facepiece interior fluid and stays out of check-valves.The environment port also is connected with said interface fluid, makes when adjuster is connected to said interface, and adjuster sealed environment port is connected to avoid exporting fluid with adjuster.Suction port and environment port can for example be formed in the said interface.In many embodiments, said method further comprises provides being tightly connected between adjuster and the said interface.Adjuster can for example comprise microphone, and said microphone is through locating when adjuster is connected to interface, to align substantially with the environment port.
Aspect further, the adjuster that uses with the face shield that comprises the port that is connected with the facepiece interior fluid comprises: supply pressure breathing gas entering pressure regulator under first pressure inlet, be used for transmitting outlet and the microphone of breathing gas to face shield.Adjuster can further comprise at least one containment member that is adapted to the sealing that provides between microphone and the ambient air.
According to the detailed description that provides below in conjunction with accompanying drawing, said equipment, system and/or method with and attribute and attendant advantages will be known better and understood.
Description of drawings
Fig. 1 illustrate face shield as herein described representative embodiment decomposition or disassemble perspective view.
Fig. 2 illustrates the perspective view of front member of the face shield of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 illustrates another perspective view of the front member of said face shield.
Fig. 4 A illustrates the cutaway view of the front member of said face shield.
Fig. 4 B illustrates the amplification view of a part of the front member of said face shield.
Fig. 5 illustrates the side view of the front member of the attached embodiment that pressure regulator arranged.
Fig. 6 illustrates front member and the side sectional view that is attached to the pressure regulator of front member.
Fig. 7 A illustrates when pressure regulator is attached to face shield, intake period (hollow arrow) and between expiration the schematic cross sectional views of (filled arrows) air-flow through face shield.
Fig. 7 B illustrates when the pressure regulator dismounting that will be attached to face shield and environment or standby port are in open mode, intake period (hollow arrow) and between expiration (filled arrows) through the schematic cross sectional views of the air-flow of face shield.
Fig. 8 A illustrates the side sectional view of pressure regulator.
Fig. 8 B illustrates the perspective view of the pressure regulator of Fig. 8 A.
Fig. 8 C illustrates the side view of the pressure regulator of Fig. 8 A.
Fig. 9 A illustrates the side sectional view of an embodiment of the adapter that is used to make filter cylinder be attached to face shield.
Fig. 9 B illustrates the perspective view of said adapter.
Figure 10 A illustrates adapter that is attached to face shield and the perspective view that is attached to the filter cylinder of adapter.
Figure 10 B illustrates the adapter that is attached to face shield and the schematic side elevation that is attached to the filter cylinder of adapter, its be illustrated in intake period (hollow arrow) and between expiration (filled arrows) through the air-flow of face shield.
The specific embodiment
The singulative that uses in this paper and the claim " one (kind) " and " said " comprise plural, only if this paper clearly indicates in addition.Thereby; For example; Mentioned " an environment port " comprises the equivalent of a plurality of these type of environment ports and this type of environment port well known by persons skilled in the art etc., and mentions that " said environment port " is exactly equivalent of mentioning one or more these type of environment ports and this type of environment port well known by persons skilled in the art etc.
Fig. 1 to Fig. 7 B illustrates the representative embodiment of full facepiece mask or respirator mask 10.As shown in Figure 1, face shield 10 can for example comprise facial blank (blank) 20 (for example by the silicon rubber manufacturing), and said facial blank comprises around the rear opening 30 of the facial sealing of user.In general, opening 30 comprises around the lower jaw cup 32 of user's lower jaw regional seal, around the side members 34 of user's lateral aspect of face sealing and the forehead parts (not shown in figure 1) around user forehead sealing relative with lower jaw cup 32.Facial blank 20 is attached to the forward components 15 (referring to for example Fig. 2) of face shield 10 hermetically, and said forward components comprises lens 50 and breathing that is formed on its underpart part and/or the filter assemblies that is positioned on its upper-part.Facial blank 20 can for example be attached to the forward components of face shield 10 hermetically along (rim) or edge (edge) 60 via periphery sides.
The term " front " that this paper uses when mentioning face shield 10 with other assembly, " forward direction ", " rear ", " back to ", " on ", D score or similar terms refer generally to and wear the reference direction of face shield 10 and upright relating to persons.
Face shield 10 can for example have the attachment member attached with it 380; Said attachment member can be connected to for example band (strapping), so that face shield 10 is attached to user's head and keeps the facial blank 20 and the facial sealed engagement of user of respirator mask 10.
The user can check that the lens 50 of surrounding environment are attached to the top of the front member 15 of face shield 10 via sealing strip edge 70 through it.Breathe and/or filter assemblies is attached to the front member 15 of face shield 10 and below lens 50.As shown in for example Figure 1A, face shield 10 comprises port or the opening 100 that is positioned at the center substantially.Port one 00 is formed in the forward end of wall extension parts 120, and said wall extension parts extend forward from the remainder of the bottom of front member 15.
The respirator modular construction of shell 200 is attached to forward direction extension component 120.In this regard, shell 200 forms joint, the cooperation (fit) of sealing with the inwall of extension component 120 or is connected.Shell 200 can for example comprise that around its peripheral raceway groove or groove 210, the inwall of said raceway groove or groove and extension component 120 forms sealed engagement (referring to for example Fig. 4 A).Shell 200 can have general Any shape to be placed in hermetically in the port with any fit shapes almost.
Shell 200 also comprises expiration port 220 (referring to for example Fig. 1), seal valve member 230 (umbrella valve member for example known in the art; Referring to for example Fig. 4 A) be connected the top of said expiration port.In the embodiment that illustrates, valve member 230 is biased in the closed position via for example spring 240 (referring to for example Fig. 4 A).Keeper 242 keeps spring 240 to be connected with valve member 230.Being biased in of valve member 230 produces in the face shield 10 as the malleation that is used for the pressure demand mode operation known in the art.Face shield 10 also can be operated with demand model, and valve member 230 is not biased in the closed position under this pattern.Valve 230 is opened when the user of face shield 10 exhales, thereby but when air-breathing, closes the prevention inhaled air through expiration port 220.
Interface port 252 is formed in the interface section or interface 250 of package shell 200 of face shield 10; Thereby face shield 10 is positioned to for example second level pressure regulator 400 or other adjuster fluid is connected; Make pressure breathing gas (for example, air or oxygen) to supply by forced air jar 500 (with dashed lines schematically shows in Fig. 1).
When being connected to 10 last times of face shield,
pressure regulator 400 is sent breathing gas according to demand to the user.As known in the art;
Pressure regulator 400 can for example comprise by the barrier film 402 of spring 404 biasings; Said barrier film is divided into inner room 406 with governor assembly, and (its internal flow with
face shield 10 is connected; And generally have with
face shield 10 in the corresponding pressure of pressure) with mistress 408 (it is connected with the surrounding environment fluid, and generally has the pressure corresponding with surrounding environment).Referring to for example Fig. 8 A.The pressure of surrounding environment is generally environmental pressure or atmospheric pressure.Barrier film 402 is linked to the actuating mechanism 410 that opens and closes inlet valve 412.User's breathing causes producing pressure differential between inner room 406 and the mistress 408 of
governor assembly 400, and said pressure differential causes barrier film 402 displacements then, thereby via mechanism's 410 controls (that is, opening and closing) inlet valve 412.As a result, the adjuster such as
adjuster 400 often is called pressure demand regulators.With with above-mentioned to the user instance of the pressure regulator that the similar mode of mode of breathing gas operates to be provided be FIREHAWK
adjuster; It can be from Mine Safety Appliances Company of Pittsburgh, and Pennsylvania obtains.
Shown in Fig. 8 A, the inlet 414 of adjuster 400 can for example be connected to pressurized gas tanks 500 via flexible hose 510.Inlet 414 can be the fluking type inlet that is used for being connected to securely flexible pipe 510 as known in the art.Outlet 416 is connected with valve 412 fluids.Flow control device 418 can for example be positioned to as known in the art and export 416 and be connected.
In the embodiment that illustrates, the spring-loaded of pressure regulator 400 keeps 256 releasable connections of formation of cooperation mounting flange of the mounting interface 254 on flange 420 (referring to for example Fig. 1 and 6) and interface port 252 peripheries.Pressure regulator 400 is included in the release-push 430 on its each side, can push said release-push and free being connected of pressure regulator and adjuster port 252.
Suction port 260 is connected with interface port 252 fluids, and the port (referring to for example Fig. 4 A and 4B) that supplies for example to get into from the forced air of pressure regulator 400 face shield 10 inside is provided.In this regard, suction port 260 is connected with air-breathing check-valves 264 fluids, and said air-breathing check-valves comprises for example valve seat 266 and flexible flapper valve 268.Inlet valve 264 is opened when the user of face shield 10 is air-breathing, thereby but when exhaling, closes the air that stops exhalation and pass through suction port 260.Therefore, pressure regulator 400 is polluted via suction port 260 between the prevention expiration.
In many embodiments, respirator mask 10 can also for example comprise the nose cup 300 of the air-flow in the aid in guide respirator mask 10.The nose on the encirclement face and the nose cup 300 of lower jaw portion can for example integrally be formed by the elastic polymer material like elastomer (for example silicones).In the embodiment that illustrates; Forward direction port through for example making nose cup 300 or opening 310 extend or extend and nose cup 300 is attached to package shell 200 from the rear around the flange that is attached to package shell 200 270, and said flange is attached to said package shell 200 via the back matching thread 282 on element 280 of screw thread on the said flange 270 272 and package shell 200.Nose cup 300 can for example comprise one or more air-breathing check-valves 320.In the embodiment that illustrates, speech transmitting (speech voicemitter) 284 is at port 310 and back between element 282, thereby help provides the voice clearly through face shield 10 to send.In several embodiments, speech transmitting 284 is formed by the film that is encapsulated in the perforation aluminium shell.Thereby the passage such as passage 216 can for example be formed on promotion voice transmission in the shell 200.
Respirator mask 10 also comprises the casing cover 288 (referring to Fig. 1) that removably is attached on the package shell 200.Casing cover 288 can for example be moulded whole part by the elastic polymer material injection mould like Merlon, polyester or polycarbonate/polyester blend.Package shell 200 is can be for example injection-molded with the mode identical substantially with lid 288 by polymeric material.Likewise, lens 50 can be for example injection-molded by polymeric material (for example, clear polycarbonate).
For instance, as shown in Figure 3, in the interface 250 that environment that opens wide or standby port 298 are formed on package shell 200.Environment port 298 forms with suction port 260 and with expiration port 220 independently, and via being connected with face shield 10/ nose cup 300 internal flows with the fluid passage different fluids paths that suction port 260 are connected to face shield 10/ nose cup 300 inside.In the embodiment that illustrates, environment port 298 is connected with face shield 10/ nose cup 300 internal flows, makes between nose/mouth of environment port 298 and user, to stay out of check-valves (referring to for example Fig. 7 A).
When the pressure regulator 300 that will be connected with face shield 10 was removed and uses face shield 10 with environment or standby mode, environment port 298 provided the stream between face shield 10/ nose cup, 300 inside and ambient air.Through the stream that stays out of check-valves between surrounding air and user is provided, must compare through some face shields that check-valves takes place with exhaling with air-breathing when face shield is operated with environmental pattern, environment port 298 has reduced resistance air-breathing and expiration.Environment port 298 further provides the unobstructed basically or direct path that supplies to send from the voice of face shield 10 usefulness.
Be arranged in open port wherein and carry out between wearer and the ambient air that fluid is connected and to stay out of other face shield of check-valves different, environment port 298 is individually formed with suction port 260 and expiration port 220.In environment port and other face shield that suction port and/or expiration port fluid are connected, exist by the user and breathe the contaminated problem of adjuster that is caused.As discussed above, it is each other shared and cross pollution may take place that adjuster often is not used the person.
Shown in Fig. 7 A, when pressure regulator 400 was connected to pressure regulator interface 250, pressure regulator 400 was with environment port 298 and ambient air sealing, and the air that prevention is breathed out gets into pressure regulator 400.In the embodiment that illustrates, pressure regulator 400 comprises: the first columniform substantially back is to extension component 450, and it extends in the interface 250; And second columniform substantially back to extension component or nozzle 454, its from first back to extension component 450 backs to extending (and its diameter is less than first back diameter to extension component 450) thus get into the suction port 260.Second back comprises at least one containment member 460 (for example, like the flexible member of O shape ring) to extension component 454, and said containment member and suction port 260 (for example, with its inwall) form sealing.First back of pressure regulator 400 also comprises at least one second containment member 462 (for example, like the flexible member of O shape ring) to extension component 450, and said containment member and interface 250 (for example, with its inwall) form sealing.When pressure regulator 400 connects, air-breathing only through suction port 260 and air-breathing check-valves 264 generations, only take place and exhale through outlet valve 220; Like above description and Fig. 7 A (wherein; Again, air-breathingly represent, represent by filled arrows and exhale by hollow arrow) shown in.
Shown in Fig. 7 B, when the pressure regulator that will be connected with interface 250 300 is removed, suck air and exhalation air and can directly pass through environment port 298.Air-breathing path is represented by hollow arrow, and the expiration path is represented by filled arrows.And for example shown in Fig. 7 B, the air-breathing suction port 260 that also can pass through takes place with air-breathing check-valves 268, is for example breathing effort or is breathing generation like this under the heavy situation.Exhale and also take place through environment port 298.In this regard, when the user exhaled, air-breathing check-valves 268 cut out and exhales and only takes place through environment port 298.Do not have in the embodiment of biasing at outlet valve 230, expiration also can take place through outlet valve 230, is particularly breathing effort or is breathing generation like this under the heavy situation.Thereby only near the breath of can the person of being used breathing out of the surface of the package shell 200 the environment port 298 is polluted.
When pressure regulator 400 was connected to pressure regulator interface 250, environment port 298 can otherwise seal.For example, in alternate embodiment, pressure regulator 400 can comprise and gets into environment port 298 and form the parts of sealing (for example, via the containment member such as O shape ring) with its inwall.
Use and connect subsequently after the pressure regulator 400 with environmental pattern, the outer surface of the pressure regulator 400 that only contact with the surface of environment port 298 can be owing to being polluted with user's breathing of environmental pattern between the operating period.Can easily sterilize (for example, through using the disinfectant wiping) in this type of surface, if desired, can before another one user working pressure adjuster 400, carry out disinfection.Yet the use of disinfectant not necessarily.Even will contaminated pressure regulator uses with another face shield as herein described via using with face shield as herein described, the cross pollution between the user can not take place yet.
Pressure regulator 400 can comprise or have a microphone 470 that is used to send user's voice; Said microphone is connected to said pressure regulator near part or surface 456 (when pressure regulator 400 was connected to interface 250, said part or surface 456 were general adjacent with environment port 298).This kind location of microphone 470 provides the direct substantially path between user's mouth and the microphone 470.Containment member 462 provides the sealing between microphone 470 and the ambient air.Pressure regulator 400 and containment member thereof 462 protection microphones 470 do not receive to damage the damage of environmental key-element of for example dust and the water of microphone 470.
Face shield 10 is for example air-purifying respirator (APR) pattern operation also, and its method for example is to use that adapter is attached to breathing circuit filter on the face shield 10 via pressure regulator 400.When connecting filter, filter adapter can be used not existing under the higher respiratory resistance situation.
Fig. 9 A and Fig. 9 B illustrate and are used for being used in combination so that filter, filter tank or filter cylinder 700 functionally are attached to a kind of embodiment of the adapter 600 (referring to Figure 10 A and Figure 10 B) on it with face shield 10.Adapter 600 is included in the mask interface on part 610 thereafter; Said mask interface for example comprises attachment mechanism; So that cooperate with the mounting flange 256 of mounting interface 254 on interface port 252 peripheries of interface 250, thereby make adapter 600 removably be attached to interface 250.This type of attachment mechanism can be for example to operate with the flange 420 similar modes of pressure regulator 400.
Thereby the
filter interface 630 that
adapter 600 further is included on its forward direction part removably is attached on it filter 700.In the embodiment that illustrates,
filter interface 630 comprises
screw thread 632, and said
screw thread 632 cooperates with matching
thread 704 on the filter 700.Can use other known in attachment techniques cooperation attachment mechanism.Shown in Figure 10 B, thereby comprise the pollutant that at least a
filter medium 710 filters from ambient air in the filter 700.Comprise that the filter cylinder that is used to filter from the various filter mediums of all contaminations of ambient air for example can obtain from Mine Safety Appliances Company, trade mark is ADVANTAGE
Respirator Cartridges and COMFO
Respirator Cartridges.
Adapter 600 comprises the air intake passage 620 through wherein, and said air intake passage is positioned to when adapter 600 is attached to interface 250 and is connected with suction port 260 fluids.In the embodiment that illustrates, passage 620 extends in the suction port 260 to extension component 612 through the back of adapter 600 wherein.Adapter 600 also comprises at least one containment member 614 (for example, like the flexible member of O shape ring), and itself and interface 250 (for example, with its inwall) form sealing.
Adapter 600 further comprises exhalation passages 640, and it is positioned to when adapter 600 is connected with interface 250 and is connected with environment port 298 fluids.Exhalation passages 640 is connected with expiration port 650 fluids, and said expiration port can for example comprise umbrella valve 652 known in the art.From user's exhalation air thereby can pass through environment port 298, directly get in the passage 640 of filter adapter 600, and through expiration barrier film 652 (it is not biased in the closed position).
Above stated specification and accompanying drawing have been stated embodiment.According to aforementioned religious doctrine, those skilled in the art will be appreciated that certainly, under the situation that does not depart from the scope of the invention, have various modifications, interpolation and replacement design, and the scope of the invention is by accompanying claims rather than above stated specification decision.Drop in implication and the scope of equivalents of claim change and change in the scope that all is included in claim.